Mizna’s Twin Cities Arab Film Festival was conceived of in 2002 and was first presented in 2003. It has since run on an eighteen-month cycle, between autumn and spring seasons. It is the second longest standing Arab Film Festival in North America.

The festival aims to exhibit primarily films made by and about Arabs, but also about non-Arabs who live in the Arab world . With few exceptions, the festival screens Minnesota theatrical premieres . For Mizna, the festival serves as an opportunity to collaborate with a variety of Twin Cities organizations.

The festival also signifies Mizna’s interest in celebrating artists whose work is Arab-themed by inviting filmmakers to attend screenings of their films and to engage audiences in related discussions.